NATIONAL WOMEN’S 100-metre champion Kelly-Ann Baptiste won the hearts of many in the twin-island republic but Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce retained the women’s Olympic gold medal at the Olympic Stadium, London, England yesterday afternoon.

At 4.55 pm, the eyes of many sports fans, in Trinidad and Tobago and across the globe, were glued to their television sets for the women’s 100m final, with the 25-year-old Baptiste, who finished third in last year’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, drawn in lane two.

But all hopes of a first female TT track and field Olympic medal faded in the blink of an eye as Baptiste struggled throughout the race and ended in sixth place in a time of 10.94 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce moved ahead at the halfway stage and held on in a close finish to win in 10.75 seconds, becoming the first woman to retain the 100m crown since Gail Devers of the United States in 1992 (Barcelona, Spain) and 1996 (Atlanta, US).

American Carmelia Jeter got the silver medal in 10.78 seconds while another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, took the bronze in 10.81 seconds. The United States pair of Tianna Madison (10.85) and Allyson Felix (10.89) were fourth and fifth respectively, followed by Baptiste, Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure (11.00) and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (11.01).

There were three semi-final heats at 2.35 pm yesterday, with Baptiste placing third in heat two in 11 seconds flat, behind Fraser-Pryce (10.85) and Felix (10.94). The two other TT semi-final entrants flopped — Semoy Hackett (11.26) was fifth in heat one, with Jeter winning in 10.83 and Campbell-Brown second in 10.89 while Lee Ahye was last in heat three in 11.32; Okagbare and Madison were the joint winners in 10.92.

In a congratulatory message, acting Sports Minister Jack Warner stated, “our athletes continue to offer world-class performances, putting our twin-island nation in the spotlight and proving that we are among the best.

“They lift our hearts and unite our spirit every time they take to the field, every time they step onto the field of competition and, for this, we thank them. This alone is priceless.” Baptiste, the first TT female sprinter in an Olympic final, also received a number of messages on Twitter, commending her for her efforts yesterday.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee blogged, “sixth fastest woman in the world. Trinidad and Tobago loves you.”

Another blog, from the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, read, “great run Kelly-Ann. Your place in history is assured.”

Fellow TT Olympian, sailor Andrew Lewis, stated, “well done Baptiste,” while soca artiste Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez, who have been a regular Twitter supporter of the national Olympic contingent, noted, “anyone want to ask me if I am proud of Kelly and her sixth position, I am dead serious.”

Baptiste will now turn her focus to the women’s 4x100m relay, with the First Round set for Friday and the Final due to be staged on Friday.

By Joel Bailey

Source: www.newsday.co.tt